An investigative committee established by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has confirmed that the well-known crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, has completed his prison sentence.
According to PUNCH Online, Bobrisky received a six-month jail sentence on April 12 for his misuse of the naira and was released from incarceration in August.
Martins Otse, a controversial social commentator known as VeryDarkMan, shared a voice message purportedly from Bobrisky, in which he claimed to have paid N15 million to certain officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to dismiss the money laundering charges against him.
In the recording, Bobrisky also alleged that a “godfather,” along with personnel from the Nigerian Correctional Service, arranged for him to serve his six-month sentence in a private residence rather than in prison.
On September 30, the minister established an investigative committee led by Magdalena Ajani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, and directed an inquiry into the suspected corruption and other infractions involving the Nigerian Correctional Service.
During the presentation of the phase one report on Monday, Uju Agomoh, a member of the panel and the Executive Director and founder of Prisoners’ Rehabilitation and Welfare Action, stated that the committee uncovered no proof that Bobrisky spent time outside the prison after her sentencing.
He said, “The panel did not find any evidence thus far that suggested that Mr Okuneye slept outside the custodial centre during the period of his imprisonment, which was from 12th April 2024 to 5th August 2024, which is a six-month correctional sentence with the usual remission applicable”.
Agomoh mentioned that during this time, Bobrisky was moved from the Kuje Custodial Centre to the Medium Security Custodial Centre located in Kirikiri-Apapa, Lagos, and subsequently to the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, where she was released after serving her sentence.
He indicated that Bobrisky received numerous benefits while at both Custodial Centres, including well-furnished single cells, a humidifier, and frequent visits from family and friends.
However, the panel noted that transferring the cross-dresser to a maximum security facility as a first-time offender contravened Sections 164A and 164B of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019.
He added, “The panel also found that Mr. Okuneye Idris enjoyed several privileges while in custody, both at the Medium Security and the Maximum Security Custodial Centres, which include, especially the following: furnished single cells, humidifier, lots of visits by his family members and friends as he desired, self-feeding, designated inmates to run errands for him, access to fridge and television, and possibly access to his phone.
“It is necessary to further investigate if the above privileges provided for Okuneye Idris were financially motivated and based on corrupt practices by correctional officers.
“The panel believes that the peculiar case of the inmates and the inmates’ physical look and behaviour pose a threat, and the lack of laid-down rules for the treatment of such a case may have necessitated such privileges to be granted to Okunenye Idris.
“The panel recommends that clear guidelines need to be set up to guide operations regarding such incidents in future. Steps should be taken to avoid the obvious discriminatory practices in relation to the socio-economic levels and other status of inmates.”
